Cab protection apparatus for construction machinery

ABSTRACT

A cab protection apparatus for protecting an operator from a cab structure that is deformed when an excavator turns upside down or a heavy object that drops on the cab is disclosed. The cab protection apparatus for a construction machine having a lower driving structure, an upper frame mounted to swing on the lower driving structure, a cab mounted on the upper frame, a working device rotatably mounted on the upper frame, and a protection structure mounted on an outside of the cab, includes a front guard hinge-fixed to a front support frame of the protection structure to be opened or closed so as to protect a front portion of the cab; and a locking device including a striker mounted on the front support frame and a latch mounted on the front guard to be locked to or unlocked from the striker.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cab protection apparatus for a construction machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cab protection apparatus for a construction machine, in which a protection structure is mounted on an outside of a cab to protect an operator from a cab structure that is deformed when an excavator turns upside down or a heavy object that drops on the cab.

BACKGROUND ART

A cab protection apparatus for a construction machine in the related art, as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes a protection structure 7 to protect an operator from a cab structure that is deformed when an excavator 1 turns upside down or a heavy object drops on a cab 2. The protection structure 7 is composed of a front support frame 4 and a rear support frame 5, which are mounted on an upper frame 3 so as to be positioned on an outside of the cab 2, and an upper support frame 6 having both ends that are connected to upper ends of the front support frame 4 and the rear support frame 5.

In this case, a front guard 9 is mounted on the front support frame 4 to protect a front glass 8 of the cab 2.

In the cab protection apparatus in the related art, upper and lower portions of the front guard 9 are detachably mounted on the front support frame 4 by a bolt 10. Due to this, in order to remove foreign substances (fallen leaves, dust, and the like) between the front glass 8 of the cab 2 and the front guard, clean the front glass 8, or repair wipers, it is required to separate several bolts 10 that fix the front guard 9.

Accordingly, a lot of work time is consumed to separate the front guard 9 from the front support frame or to mount the front guard 9 on the front support frame 4, and this may cause workability to deteriorate. Further, separation or mounting of the heavy front guard 9 is performed in a state where an operator or a driver holds the front guard 9, and this may give the operator or the driver inconvenience.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the related art, and one embodiment of the present invention is related to a cab protection apparatus for a construction machine, which can reduce the work time required to remove foreign substances on a front surface of a cab or to replace a front glass of the cab and thus can provide convenience to a worker through mounting of a front guard on the front surface of the cab to be opened or closed in hinged manner.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cab protection apparatus for a construction machine including a lower driving structure, an upper frame mounted to swing on the lower driving structure, a cab mounted on the upper frame, a working device rotatably mounted on the upper frame, and a protection structure mounted on an outside of the cab, which includes a front guard hinge-fixed to a front support frame of the protection structure to be opened or closed so as to protect a front portion of the cab; and a locking device including a striker mounted on the front support frame and a latch mounted on the front guard to be locked to or unlocked from the striker.

Preferably, the cab protection apparatus may further include a cushion pad mounted on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion inside the front guard to serve as a bumper in the case where the front guard fixed to the front support frame is closed.

The cab protection apparatus may further include a handle formed on an outer surface of the front guard to be used when the front guard fixed to the front support frame is opened or closed.

The cab protection apparatus may further include a stay having a fixed end liftably and rotatably fixed to a lower side of the front support frame and a free end detachably coupled to a coupling hole of the front support frame and the front guard, and maintaining the front guard mounted on the front support frame in an open state.

The cab protection apparatus may further include a first bumper mounted on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of a first support of the front support frame on which the striker is mounted to perform buffering function and noise prevention function in the case where the front guard fixed to the front support frame is closed.

The cab protection apparatus may further include a second bumper mounted on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of a second support of the front support frame to which the front guard is hinge-fixed to limit opening of the front guard within a predetermined angle in the case where the front guard fixed to the front support frame is opened.

A first bracket to which the first bumper is fixed may be fixed to the first support, and a fastening member insert-molded on the first bumper may be movably coupled to the first bracket in an axis direction.

A second bracket to which the second bumper is fixed may be fixed to the second support, and a fastening member insert-molded on the second bumper may be movably coupled to the second bracket in an axis direction.

The front guard may be hinge-fixed to the front support frame so as to be opened or closed in left and right directions.

A hinge member that fixes the front guard to the front support frame so that the front guard can be opened or closed may be fixed to the front support frame by a bolt.

Advantageous Effect

The cab protection apparatus for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention as constructed above has the following effects.

Since the front guard is mounted on the front surface of the cab in hinged manner, the work time for opening or closing the front guard to remove the foreign substances from the front surface of the cab can be reduced, and the worker's access is facilitated during repair work of the front glass to provide workability and convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an excavator on which a cab protection apparatus for a construction machine in the related art is mounted;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an excavator on which a cab protection apparatus for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state where a front guard is opened in a cab protection apparatus for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a locking device for locking and unlocking a front guard in a cab protection apparatus for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of a bumper that serves as a buffer when a front guard is opened or closed in a cab protection apparatus for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWING

-   11: front support frame -   12: front guard -   13: striker -   14: latch -   15: locking device -   16: cushion pad -   17: handle -   18, 19: coupling hole -   20: stay -   21: first bumper -   22: second bumper -   23: first bracket -   24, 26: fastening member -   25: second bracket -   27: hinge member

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment disclosed hereinafter does not limit the technical idea and the scope of the present invention, but corresponds to exemplary terms of the present invention that can be easily embodied by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5B, a cab protection apparatus for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, including a lower driving structure a, an upper frame b mounted to swing on the lower driving structure a, a cab c mounted on the upper frame b, a working device including a boom rotatably mounted on the upper frame b, and a protection structure e mounted on an outside of the cab c, the cab protection apparatus includes a front guard 12 hinge-fixed to a front support frame 11 of the protection structure e to be opened or closed so as to protect a front portion (e.g., structure, such as front glass or wiper) of the cab c; and a locking device 15 including a striker 13 mounted on a first support 11 a of the front support frame 11 and a latch 14 mounted on the front guard 12 to be locked to or unlocked from the striker 13.

The cab protection apparatus may further include a cushion pad 16 mounted on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion inside the front guard 12 to serve as a bumper in the case where the front guard 12 fixed to the front support frame 11 is closed.

The cab protection apparatus may further include a handle 17 formed on an outer surface of the front guard 12 to be used when the front guard 12 fixed to the front support frame 11 is opened or closed.

The cab protection apparatus may further include a stay 20 having a fixed end liftably and rotatably fixed to a lower side of the front support frame 11 and a free end detachably coupled to a coupling hole 18 and 19 of the front support frame 11 and the front guard 12, and maintaining the front guard 12 mounted on the front support frame 11 in an open state.

The cab protection apparatus may further include a first bumper 21 mounted on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the first support 11 a of the front support frame 11 on which the striker 13 is mounted to perform buffering function and noise prevention function in the case where the front guard 12 fixed to the front support frame 11 is closed.

The cab protection apparatus may further include a second bumper 22 mounted on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of a second support 11 b of the front support frame 11 to which the front guard 12 is hinge-fixed to limit opening of the front guard 12 within a predetermined angle in the case where the front guard 12 fixed to the front support frame 11 is opened.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5A, a first bracket 23 to which the first bumper 21 is fixed may be fixed to upper and lower portions of the first support 11 a, and a fastening member (e.g., a bolt) 24 insert-molded on the first bumper 21 may be movably coupled to the first bracket 23 in an axis direction (direction in which the front guard 12 is opened or closed with respect to the front support frame 11) (indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 5A). In this case, due to release of the bolt 24 from a nut 24 a, the first bumper 21 can be prevented from being moved. Through this, in the case of assembling the front guard 12 onto the front support frame 11 to be opened or closed, a gap between the first bumper 21 and a contact piece 12 a formed on the front guard 12 to contact the first bumper 21 can be variably adjusted.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5B, a second bracket 25 to which the second bumper 22 is fixed may be fixed to upper and lower portions of the second support 11 b, and a fastening member (e.g., a bolt) 26 insert-molded on the second bumper 22 may be movably coupled to the second bracket 25 in an axis direction (direction in which the front guard 12 is opened or closed with respect to the front support frame 11) (indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 5B). In this case, due to release of the bolt 26 from a nut 26 a, the second bumper 22 can be prevented from being moved. Through this, in the case of assembling the front guard 12 onto the front support frame 11 to be opened or closed, a gap between the second bumper 22 and a contact piece 12 b formed on the front guard 12 to contact the second bumper 22 can be variably adjusted.

The front guard 12 may be hinge-fixed to the front support frame 11 so as to be opened and closed in left and right directions.

A hinge member 27 (e.g., hinge) that fixes the front guard 12 to the front support frame 11 so that the front guard 12 can be opened and closed may be fixed to the front support frame 11 by a bolt (not illustrated). Through this, in the case of assembling the front guard onto the front support frame 11 to be opened or closed, an assembling error between them can be overcome.

Hereinafter, a use example of a cab protection apparatus for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5B, in order to protect the cab c from the external impact, the protection structure e that is positioned on the outside of the cab is mounted on the upper frame b. The protection structure e is composed of the front support frame 11, the rear support frame 28, and the upper support frame 29 having both ends that are connected to the upper ends of the front support frame 11 and the rear support frame 28.

A) In Case of Opening the Front Guard 12 from the Front Support Frame 11

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the case of cleaning foreign substances, such as fallen leaves accumulated between the front glass f of the cab c and the front guard 12, the locking device 15 is released from locking. That is, the handle 14 a of the latch 14 formed on the front guard 12 is grasped and pulled in the direction in which the front guard 12 is opened. Through this, the locking state of the latch 14 that is mounted on the front guard 12 is released from the striker 13 that is mounted on the front support frame 11 to form the locking device 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, by grasping and rotating the handle 17 that is formed on an outer surface of the lower portion of the front guard 12 in clockwise direction about the center axis of the hinge member 27, the front guard 12 can be opened from the front support frame 11. In this case, the contact piece 12 b formed on the upper and lower portions of the front guard 12 comes in contact with the second bumper 22 that is mounted on the second support 11 b in correspondence to the contact piece 12 b. At this time, since the contact piece 12 b of the front guard 12 comes in contact with the second bumper, opening of the front guard 12 is limited within a predetermined angle.

As described above, the opening angle of the front guard 12 that is opened from the front support frame 11 can be temporarily maintained during working. That is, by lifting the stay 20 that is liftably and rotatably mounted on the front support frame 11 upward, the free end of the stay 20 secedes from the coupling hole 18 formed in the front support frame 11. In this case, by making the stay 20 descend after rotating the fixed end of the stay 20 toward the front guard 12 about the center axis, the free end is coupled to the coupling hole 19 formed in the front guard 12.

As described above, by opening the front guard 12 at the predetermined angle and maintaining the opening angle through the stay 20, the operator or worker can easily remove or clean the foreign substances, such as fallen leaves or dust, that stick to the front glass f. Further, during replacement of the front glass f or repairing of the wiper in a state where the front guard is opened, the worker's access is facilitated, and thus workability can be improved.

B) In Case of Closing the Front Guard 12 toward the Front Portion of the Cab c

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, by lifting the stay 20 upward, the free end of the stay 20 secedes from the coupling hole 19 that is formed in the front guard 12. After the fixed end of the stay 20 is rotated toward the front support frame 11 about the center axis, the free end of the stay 20 is coupled to the coupling hole 18 formed in the front support frame 11.

Through this, the front guard 12 can be closed toward the front support frame 11. That is, by grasping and rotating the handle 17 that is formed on the lower portion of the front guard 12 in counterclockwise direction about the center axis of the hinge member 27, the front guard 12 is closed toward the initial position of the front support frame 11. In this case, the latch 14 that is mounted on the front guard 12 is coupled to the striker 13 that is mounted on the front support frame 11, and the locking device 15 is shifted to the locking state. Through this, the front guard 12 is prevented from being opened from the front support frame 11 during working or driving.

As described above, in the case of closing the front guard 12 toward the front support frame 11, the cushion pad 16 that is mounted on the upper and lower portions of the inside of the front guard 12 comes in contact with the frame 11 c of the front support frame 11. Through this, impact that is generated when the front guard 12 is closed with respect to the front support frame 11 can be mitigated, and noise can be prevented from occurring.

Further, in the case of closing the front guard 12 toward the front support frame 11, the first bumper 21 that is mounted on the upper and lower portions of the first support 11 a of the front support frame 11 comes in contact with the contact piece 12 a that is formed on the front guard 12 in correspondence to the first bumper 21. Through this, impact that is generated when the front guard 12 is closed with respect to the front support frame 11 can be mitigated, and noise can be prevented from occurring.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since the front guard is mounted on the front surface of the cab in hinged manner, the work time for opening or closing the front guard to remove the foreign substances from the front surface of the cab can be reduced, and the worker's access is facilitated during repair work of the front glass to provide workability and convenience. 

1. A cab protection apparatus for a construction machine including a lower driving structure, an upper frame mounted to swing on the lower driving structure, a cab mounted on the upper frame, a working device rotatably mounted on the upper frame, and a protection structure mounted on an outside of the cab, the cab protection apparatus comprising: a front guard hinge-fixed to a front support frame of the protection structure to be opened or closed so as to protect a front portion of the cab; and a locking device including a striker mounted on the front support frame and a latch mounted on the front guard to be locked to or unlocked from the striker.
 2. The cab protection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cushion pad mounted on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion inside the front guard to serve as a bumper in the case where the front guard fixed to the front support frame is closed.
 3. The cab protection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a handle formed on an outer surface of the front guard to be used when the front guard fixed to the front support frame is opened or closed.
 4. The cab protection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stay having a fixed end liftably and rotatably fixed to a lower side of the front support frame and a free end detachably coupled to a coupling hole of the front support frame and the front guard, and maintaining the front guard mounted on the front support frame in an open state.
 5. The cab protection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first bumper mounted on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of a first support of the front support frame on which the striker is mounted to perform buffering function and noise prevention function in the case where the front guard fixed to the front support frame is closed.
 6. The cab protection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second bumper mounted on at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of a second support of the front support frame to which the front guard is hinge-fixed to limit opening of the front guard within a predetermined angle in the case where the front guard fixed to the front support frame is opened.
 7. The cab protection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a first bracket to which the first bumper is fixed is fixed to the first support, and a fastening member insert-molded on the first bumper is movably coupled to the first bracket in an axis direction.
 8. The cab protection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a second bracket to which the second bumper is fixed is fixed to the second support, and a fastening member insert-molded on the second bumper is movably coupled to the second bracket in an axis direction.
 9. The cab protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front guard is hinge-fixed to the front support frame so as to be opened or closed in left and right directions.
 10. The cab protection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a hinge member that fixes the front guard to the front support frame so that the front guard can be opened or closed is fixed to the front support frame by a bolt. 